Vibratory feed mechanism



Dec. 15, 1959 D. w. GARNETT VIBRATORY FEED macumsu 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' Filed March 4, 1957 WDONALD W.GARN TT ATTORNEYS Dec. 15, 1959 D. w. GARNETT 2,917,158

' VIBRATORY FEED MECHANISM Filed March 4, 1957 4 Shasta-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

DONALD W. GARNETT ATTORNEYS United States Patent O VIBRATORY FEED MECHANISM Donald W. Garnett, Grand Ledge, Mich., assignor to The Olofsson Corporation, Lansing, Micln, a corporation of Michigan Application March 4, 1957, Serial No. 643,809

14 Claims. (Cl. 198-420) The present invention relates to an improved vibratory feed mechanism for use, as herein disclosed, in apparatus for weighing discrete materials, for example potato chips, particularly in the preparation of such materials for packaging. However, it will become apparent, as the description proceeds, that the subject mechanism has broad utility in other applications in which it is desirable to provide a compound vibratory motion to a feeding or other support for materials, characterized by a combined angular oscillation and bodily shift of the support in a direction normal to the plane of oscillation.

It is an object of the invention to provide a vibratory feed mechanism of this sort, in which a small, fractional horsepower electric motor serves as a unitary prime mover, this motor transmitting vibratory motion of the desired nature to the material or article support through the agency of a weighted eccentric or eccentrics rotating about an axis at an acute angle to the axis of rotation of the motor prime mover, but preferably in a plane paralleling that axis. The eccentric weights are so arranged as to impart a vertical component of vibratory motion to the support, coupled with an oscillatory component, so that discrete materials or particles deposited on the support are given an orbital movement in a circular path, in relation to the axis of rotation of the motor.

Yet another object is to provide a vibratory feed mechanism of the sort described, in which the eccentrics are mechanically coupled to the operating motor through appropriate angularly meshing gearing, in view of the inclined relation of the respectiverotative axes, and through flexible coupling provisions. The gear connected eccentrics thus have an oscillating or orbital movement imparted thereto to accompany their driving rotation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vibratory feed mechanism including a prime mover rotating above a vertically disposed axis; a pair of vibration imparting eccentrics rotatable about axes 180 spaced from one another on opposite sides of the prime mover axis, being inclined relative to the prime mover or motor axis, as mentioned above; coacting helical gears by which the eccentrics are driven; flexible coupling provisions interposed between the motor shaft and a coaxial operator or operating shaft by which one of the helical gears is carried, and further flexible coupling means interconnecting this helical gear with the operator, enabling the tated. These features result in a slight vertical vibratory shift bodily of an article support controlled by the eccentrics, as the support is oscillated orbitally and, moreover, the effects of the weighted eccentrics are such as to be additive in the circumferential sense, i.e., in reference to the path desiredly traversed by the vibrated material, and to largely cancel one another out in the other, or radial sense.

Thus, as a lightweight, discrete particle material, such as potato chips, is subjected to vibratory action of the gear in question to oscillate independently as it is rt described compound, oscillatory-vertical agitation type, the material pursues its intended orbital travel, being caused to move radially only under the influence of additional chips supplied to the mechanism. This type of movement is advantageous in the particular type of apparatus to which the mechanism is applied in the illustrated embodiment, such apparatus, however, being not particularly the subject of the invention.

Yet another object is to provide a mechanism as referred to above, in which the horsepower requirement is slight, as compared with previously employed vibrators, such as the electromagnetic, so-called Syntron type; in which a constant feed rate is assured, notwithstanding voltage changes; and in which it is possible to control the rate of feed in diflerent ways, ie by regulation of the motor speed and by an appropriate choice of eccentric mass and unbalance.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view, partially broken away, showing basic features of the improved vibratory feed mechanism as applied to a typical weighing apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the mechanism, partially broken away, as viewed from the rightof Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section along broken line 3-3 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 4 is a view in horizontal section of the operato unit of the mechanism, along a line corresponding to the line 44 of Fig. 3, showing a detail of the flexible coupling interconnecting a motor driven operator of the mechanism with a helical eccentric driving gear;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical section along line 5-5 of Fig. 1, illustrating an eccentric unit driven by the helical gear of the operator;

Fig. 6 is a somewhat schematic view in transverse section along a line corresponding to the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a schematic layout depicting the arrangement of helical gearing of the mechanism, and the effects thereof in regard to the oscillatory movement of the material support of the mechanism; and

Fig. 8 is a more or less schematic side elevational view, as from a line normal to the line 55 of Fig. 1, showing the structure and action of the operating gearing, housing provisions being omitted.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the improved vibratory feed mechanism, which is shown as operatively associated with a material supporting and distributing table 11 adapted to be associated with an appropriate automatic weighing apparatus (not shown), with which the invention is concerned only in respect to a desired circumferential feeding distribution of materials, such as potato chips, along the table 11, for the purpose of that apparatus. Accordingly, only the most general reference need be made to the table structure. It is of polygonal outline in plan, being outwardly confined by the upright polygonal wall 13 and inwardly by the annular wall 14, which encircles the base 15 of the mechanism 10, as shown in Fig. 3. Table 11 is mounted in fixed relation to the base 15, for vibration therewith under the infiuence of the provisions to be described.

At its several apices, the table surface 11 is Provided with angularly shaped floor opening 16, and these openings are controlled by hinged upright, horizontally movable door plates 17 disposed along one edge of each of the respective openings 16. The plates 17 are each adapted to be periodically operated by arms 18, 18' yieldably articulated at a coil torsion spring 19. Ann 18 is pivotally connected to the door plate at 18" and this plate is hinged on the table 11 at 19'. Ann 18 is secured to the rotary armature of a rotary solenoid 20 of commercial make, which is appropriately mounted beneath the mechanism 10.

In advance of each of the trap door plate 17, the table is provided with an arcuate diversion tongue or plate 21 on the floor thereof, one of these tongues, designated 21, being relatively elongated in its circumferential extent or length, and being adjustably positionable by means of a pin removably engageable with apertures 22 in the floor surface of table 11.

As indicated above, the invention is not essentially concerned with the features relating to the door plates 17, the means to control the same, and the means to control the diversion of materials toward the plates.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the vibratory mechanism comprises a centrally apertured housing 24 of inverted cup-like outline, this housing being rigidly supported at one side thereof by a tubular arm 25 (itself in turn supported rigidly by any appropriate means), which arm has a flange 26 secured by bolts 27 to a flat exterior surface 28 of the housing 24.

A prime mover motor 29, of say, H.P. rating, is disposed in the central top opening 30 of the housing 24, being secured by appropriate provisions (not shown) in fixed relation to the base so as to vibrate with the latter, an annular dust seal 31 being applied to seal opening 30.

The annular depending wall 32 of housing 24 is of substantial vertical height, and the lower edge thereof is equipped with an annular sheet metal shield or shell 33 which vertically over-extends the inner annular wall 14 of table 11, being in radially outwardly spaced relation to that wall. Hence the housing wall 32, shield 33 and table wall 14 constitute a housing structure for the mechanism 10, including its base 15 and the vibratory unit thereof, generally designated 35.

Base 15 and unit 35 are resiliently hung from the housing 24, as by means of a single spring coil 36 of hollow tubular stock which surrounds the vibratory unit 35, being secured at one of the coil extremities, by welding 37 or otherwise, to a stud and spacer member 38 fixed to and depending from the top wall 39 of housing 24, and at its opposite end by a similar welded connection to an upright post 40 on the case 15.

If desired, the spring coil 36 may be employed as a conduit for electric wiring leads 41 through which the terminals of motor 29 and rotary solenoids are electrically supplied. Alternatively, the wiring may be taped to this spring. As a further alternative, the vibratory unit 35 may be suspended by individual coil springs, or by another suitable type of resilient mount which will suggest itself to those skilled in the art. The leads 41 "are brought out to a suitable terminal or binding post strip 42.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8, the vibratory unit 35 comprises a central, motor driven operator device 44 coaxial with the shaft of motor 29 and housed within a central cylindrical, integral upward extension 45 of the base 15; and two like vibratory eccentric devices 46, each housed in the cylindrical interior of a further upwardly inclined housing extension 47 of the base 15, these housing extensions being in diametrically opposed relation to one another on opposite sides of the vertical axis of the central operator device 44.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the depending shaft extremity 49 of motor 29 is drivingly connected in the upper half 50 of a resilient coupling, including an elastically compressible disk 51 drivingly connected to the part 50 and in turn drivingly connected by pins '52 with the other half 53 of the coupling, to which the upper reduced 'end 54 of the rotative operator 55 is secured.

A suitable mounting ring 56 is interposed between the lower end of the housing for motor '29 and the upper end of the housing extension 45 of the operator device 44.

The operator 55 may be in the form of a cylindrical member of enlarged diameter at its lower portion 57, and it is appropriately journaled by upper and lower ball bearings 58, 59, in the housing extension 45.

The reference numeral 61 indicates a gear through which the operator 55 drives the remainder of the vibratory unit 35. This is a conventional helical gear interposed between a flanged annular spacer 62, which receives a necked intermediate portion 55' of operator 55 and the enlarged lower portion 57 of the operator. Driving connection of the helical gear 61 with the operator is effected through the agency of flexible coupling means 63 (Figs. 3 and 4) in the form of pins 64 secured to the top of operator portion 57 and upwardly received between elastic cushion blocks 65 carried in recesses 66 of gear 61. Accordingly, the resilient coupling in this zone enables the gear to oscillate individually as it is rotatively driven by operator 55.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the vibratory eccentric devices 46 on either side of the central driver device 35 each include a helical gear 67 disposed with its axis in a vertical plane and with an offset of, say, 20 relative to the axis of the central helical drive gear 61. Actually gear 67 will have a 10 helix angle for this axial relationship, although the drawings do not purport to be accurate in respects such as this. On either axial side of the gear 67 an eccentric weight 63 of semicylindrical cross section (Fig. 5) is integrally or otherwise fixedly secured to the gear, these eccentrics being filleted at 69 and connected, preferably integrally, to axial upper and lower pilots 70, 7.1, respectively. These pilots are secured to the inner races of upper and lower roller bearings 72, 73, by which the eccentric assemblies are rotatively mounted in the respective opposed housing extensions 47 of base 15.

These housing extensions, .as well as the central driver housing extension 45, are provided with adjacent side apertures 75 (Fig. 6), through which the helical gear teeth are exposed for meshing engagement of the gears 67 with the operator driven gear 61.

It is believed that the operation of the mechanism 10 is readily understood from the above. Energization of motor 29 drives central operator 55 through the resilient coupling 50, 51, with a cushioned effect, and the further resilient cushioning of the central helical driver gear 61 by coupling pins-64-and cushion blocks 65 enable this gear to individually oscillate as it is rotated.

Eccentric devices 46 are rotated by gear 61 at like speeds, the 20 inclination of the eccentric axes of rotation to the operator axis tending to impart angular oscillations to the housing extensions 47, base 15 and table structure 12, coupled with anappreciable vibratory throw in the vertical sense, which is very effective in securing a uniform circumferential feed .of materials around the table, to be diverted on the latter by the provisions 21, 21' to that end.

Eccentric weights 68, which are weights each rotating in a circular motion about its axis but not through its center of gravity, act upon the restraining agent with a constant force directed radially outward from their individual axes. In this case, centrifugal forces are transferred through axis pilots 70 and 71 and through the bearings 72 and '73 to the base 15 and all structure attached thereto. Since for any action there is always an equal and opposite reaction, the base 15 and all structure attached thereto, which includes table 11, is subjected .to accelerations in the direction of the centrifugal forces. The centrifugal forces of eccentrics 68 in combination, while remaining radial about their individual axis of rotation, are constantlychanging in direction, successively subjecting the table 11 to:

(1) An upward forward angular acceleration.

(2) Inward cancelling accelerations.

(3-) Downward backward angular accelerations.

(4;) Outwardcancelling acceleration.

Referring to Figs. 7 of the drawings, it is seen that the disposition of the vibratory counterweights 68 is such that they tend to cancel out in effect in the direction of a line through the rotative axes of gear 61 and gears 67 on either side thereof, i.e., in the direction of'the arrows pointing up and down but to additively reinforce their effects as to oscillation in a direction at 90 to that line i.e., in the direction of the arrows pointing to opposite sides. This produces the practically purely circumferential advance of the material mentioned above, with radial movement attributable solely to radial accumulation of additional material in reference to the path of circumferential feed. In short, the impetus given to the vibrated material is wholly non-centrifugal.

' Stated otherwise, the movement of an increment of table 11, is upward and forward, then downward and backward, forward here designating the resultant direction of motion of supported material, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. As the tray increment rises, it imparts an upward acceleration to supported material and in additive effect, combines weight of material and inertia to provide a resultant high resistance to slipping of material horizontally. The material is therefore urged in the forward direction. This cycle is followed by the downward and backward motion of the tray increment concerned. This downward motion subtractively reduces the inertia effect from its weight and allows horizontal slipping more easily, allowing the tray to return, without returning the material.

The supported material is therefore displaced an increment of distance forward on the tray each vibration. At high vibration frequencies or long strokes, the inertia effect may cause the tray to draw down away from and out of all contact with the supported material. Under this condition, there is, of course, no force tending to stop the forward motion or return the material with the tray. The forward speed then is limited only by the speed imparted to the material on forward stroke.

The mechanism is relatively inexpensive in its parts and reliable as to its operation. It is not sensitive to ordinary variations in line voltage, and it consumes much less power than conventional vibratory mechanisms operated electromagnetically. Accurate control as to feed rate is made possible by varying the speed of motor 29 or by appropriate selection of the weight and location of the mass of the eccentrics 68, i.e., in respect to their radial disposition from the axis of eccentric rotation.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A vibratory mechanism comprising a support to be vibrated to control the movement of articles in relation thereto, a rotatively driven operator, and coacting rotative operating means having an angularly related driving connection to one another between said support and operator to vibrate said support with a compound movement of angular oscillation and bodily shift at an angle to the plane of oscillation upon rotation of said operator.

2. A vibratory mechanism comprising a support to be vibrated to control the movement of articles in relation thereto, arotatively driven operator, coacting rotative operating means having an angularly related driving connection to one another between said support and operator to vibrate said support with a compound movement of angular oscillation and bodily shift at an angle to the plane of oscillation upon rotation of said operator, and means cushioning the drive of said support through said operator and connection.

3. A vibratory mechanism comprising a support to be vibrated to control the movement of articles in relation thereto, a rotatively driven operator, and operating connections between said support and operator to vibrate said support with a compound movement of angular oscillation and bodily shift at an angle to the plane of oscil lation upon rotation of said operator, comprising an eccentric having means mounting the same on said support for rotation about an axis at an acute angle to the rotative axis 'of'said operator, and means driving said eccentric from said operator.

' 4. A vibratory mechanism comprising a support to be vibrated to control the movement of articles in relation thereto, a rotatively driven operator, and operating connections between said support and operator to vibrate said support with a compound movement of angular oscillation and bodily shift at an angle to the plane of oscillation upon rotation of said operator, comprising an eccentric having means mounting the same on said support for rotation about an axis at an acute angle to the rotative axis of said operator and in a plane paralleling the. operator axis, and means yieldably driving said eccentric from said operator.

' 5. A vibratory mechanism comprising a support to be vibrated to control the movement of articles in relation thereto, a rotatively driven operator, and operating connections between said support and operator to vibrate said support with a compound movement of angular oscillation and bodily shift at an angle to the plane of oscillation upon rotation of said operator, comprising a pair of eccentrics having means mounting the same on said support at diametrically opposite sides of the rotative axis of said operator for rotation about axes at an acute angle to said rotative axis, and means driving said eccentrics from said operator.

6. A vibratory mechanism comprising a support to be vibrated to control the movement of articles in relation thereto, a rotatively driven operator, and operating connections between said support and operator to vibrate said support with a compound movement of angular oscillation and bodily shift at an angle to the plane of oscillation upon rotation of said operator, comprising a pair of eccentrics having means mounting the same on said support at diametrically opposite sides of the rotative axis of said operator for rotation about axes at an acute angle to said rotative axis, and means yieldably driving said eccentrics from said operator.

7. A vibratory mechanism comprising a fixed mount, a support to be vibrated to control the movement of articles in relation thereto, means resiliently sustaining said support on said mount, a rotatively driven operator carried by said support, and operating connections between said support and operator to vibrate said support upon rotation of said operator, comprising a pair of eccentrics having means mounting the same on said support at 0pposite sides of the axis of rotation of said operator for rotation about axes at an acute angle to said rotative axis and in planes paralleling the same, and means yieldably driving said eccentrics from said operator.

8. A vibratory mechanism comprising a support mounted for vibration in different planes, a pair of laterally spaced eccentrics operatively connected to said support and each rotatable about an inclined axis, a rotative operator having means journalling it on a vertical axis normal to one of said planes and between said eccentrics and inclined to the respective rotative axes thereof, means to rotate said operator, a gear rotatable coaxially with said operator and gears rotatable coaxially with said respective eccentrics and meshing with said first named gear.

9. A vibratory mechanism comprising a support mounted for vibration in different planes, a pair of laterally spaced eccentrics operatively connected to said support and each rotatable about an inclined axis, a rotative operator having means journalling it on a vertical axis normal to one of said planes and midway between said eccentrics and at a common inclination to the respective rotative axes thereof, means to rotate said operator, a gear rotatable coaxially with said operator and gears rotatable coaxially-With said respective eccentrics and meshing with said first named gear.

10. A vibratory mechanism comprising a pair of laterally spaced eccentrics each rotatable about an inclined axis, a rotative operator having its axis midway between said eccentrics and at a common inclination to the respective rotative axes thereof, means to impart cushioned rotation to said operator, a gear rotatable coaxially with said operator, gears rotatable coaxially with said respective eccentrics and meshing With said first named gear, and means providing a cushioned drive from said operator through said gears to said eccentrics.

11. A vibratory mechanism comprising a mount, a pair of laterally spaced eccentrics resiliently sustained by said mount, said eccentrics each being rotatable about an inclined axis, a rotative operator having its axis midway between said eccentrics and at a common inclination to the respective rotative axes thereof, means to impart cushioned rotation to said operator, a gear rotatable coaxially with said operator, gears rotatable co-axially with said respective eccentrics and meshing with said first named gear, and means providing a cushioned drive from said operator through said gears to said eccentrics.

12. A vibratory mechanism comprising a support to be vibrated to control the movement of articles in relation thereto, a rotatively driven operator, and coacting rotative operating means connecting said support for vibration by said operator, said means including rotative members on said operator and support drivingly engaging one another with their respective axes in acutely angled relation, whereby upon rotation to vibrate said support with a compound movement of angular oscillation and bodily shift at an angle to the plane of oscillation.

13. A vibratory mechanism comprising a support to be vibrated to: control the movement of articles in relation thereto, a rotatively driven operator, and rotative operating means on said support driven by said operator to vibrate said support, said operating means comprising a pair of rotative eccentric members disposed on opposite diametrai sides of said operator, with their axes of rotation at acute angles to the axis of said operator, and means drivingly engaging said eccentric members with said operator, whereby upon rotation to vibrate said support with a compound movement of angular oscillation and bodily shift at an angle to the plane of oscillation,

14. A vibratory mechanism in accordance with claim 13, in which said support is a horizontally disposed one and the axis of said operator is vertical, the centrifugal actions of said eccentric members cancelling one another, and the upward and downward oscillatory effects of said eccentric members occasioned by their angular relation to said operator being successive and non-cancellative.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,374,664 Carrier May 1, 1945 2,827,157 Tsuchiya et a1 Mar. 18, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 47,758 Germany July 12, 1889 1,045,631 France July 1, 1953 

